27 Comments

Thank you for this! My husband and I have also forgone news for several years and you’re totally right, you’ll always know everything you actually need to know. It is a shift to adjust to this new side of notes, but I that you can train the algorithm, I’ve even done it on facebook.

I did social media marketing for years and then completely burned out so I deleted my facebook for 3-4 years. When I went back to facebook, I was doing it for very specific reasons, work and to connect with 1 community. That was around 3 years ago and still when people are complaining about drama on their timeline, I can’t relate.

I rarely even look at my timeline, but when I do, it’s actually exactly what I’m looking for. Thank you for reminding me that this can be done here on substack as well.

Expand full comment
author

It totally can and interestingly I have a news feed eradicator plug in for Facebook and linked in so if I have to go on there I don’t get my home page but an inspirational quote instead. ✨✨

Expand full comment

Ooh how cool!

Expand full comment
author

It’s a game changer. Doesn’t work on apps tho

Expand full comment

Thank you, Claire, as always, so helpful. I have been getting both anxious and annoyed because of notes. So many of them feel like the cheese inspirational quotes written by bots...and then get over 100 likes. I am doing the INBOX thing and will deleting the app for a few days over the weekend. I have a 1000 piece puzzle to finish :-)

Expand full comment
Nov 13Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

Thank you for sharing this, Claire. Notes has felt so overwhelming lately, so, so noisy. Even the people I genuinely follow, I’m not seeing their Notes 🤷🏻‍♀️ I can relate to what you said about when Notes first started and all the genuine connections we made and all the lovely chats 💗

Expand full comment
author

Right and so we just have to remember where to find those and I think with subscriber chat and comments we still have a wonderful space. ✨✨

Expand full comment
founding
Nov 14Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

I agree with you about notes. I’m trying so hard to reduce the scrolling and engage in real conversations. I’m not getting through the lively posts in my inbox. I’m starting there first. ❤️

Expand full comment
Nov 13Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

Thank you for this video and all of your other ones. After too much overwhelm in my life and then having my big-screen Mac stop working, I decided it was a serendipitous time for a reset, rethink and downsize. So I'm now on an ancient laptop where scrolling through social media sites isn't so easy for me (yay) and whereas I've just dipped my toe in the Substack water previously, I now want to commit more time and energy back into my writing and creativity (instead of getting distracted by FB games!!!) Your take on Notes was really valuable as I really don't want to find myself in a noisy space again. Your 'Sparkle on Substack' is a brilliant resource and I have already learned so much! Thank you again! :-)

Expand full comment
author

Aw you’re welcome Jules! Yay 🥳 glad you’re here!

Expand full comment

Thank you so much! The tip to change so the app opens inbox instead of notes is fantastic – I didn’t know it was a thing! 🙏

Expand full comment
Nov 19Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

Creators should be able to collaborate and help one another. I agree! We do shape the community!

Thanks for sharing! I’m new and learning. Appreciate your content!!

Expand full comment
author

I'm so glad!

Expand full comment
Nov 19Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

Would you say start my publication now or wait until I get more followers?

Expand full comment
author

Right now! Followers are a new feature but you want those email addresses. We have a call on Thursday on how to set up your home page to optimize growth if you want to use a free trial and join us.

Expand full comment
Nov 19Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

Yes, this platform is definitely overwhelming to me and I want to maximize my efforts. Yes please invite me to the call.

Expand full comment
author

Here's a 14 day free trial - it won't work in the app - https://sparkleon.substack.com/391828b5

Expand full comment

I had no idea anything wrong was happening on Notes haha. But there's so much good advice in here, especially around Recommendations and making those meaningful connections. That's the one thing that I feel makes Substack special in the current Social Media space. I think if we just keep focusing on that and not worry about the rest, we can have a good time here.

Expand full comment
Nov 16Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

I’ve clearly got so much learning to do on Substack. It really resonates with me when you say about not watching the news. My husband and I are the same we don’t watch the news or read any heavy journalism. There’s too many opinions and not enough fact!

Expand full comment
Nov 15Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

This was so helpful. Thank you for explaining and then summarizing the key questions that were driving me into a frenzy, really glad I didn’t toss my phone, my desktop, my laptop, my iPad, myself into the depths of the cold pond. Yes, it was that helpful to just see and hear you explain things.

Expand full comment
author

😂 I hear you Bobbe! ✨

Expand full comment
Nov 15Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

Thank you Claire. I appreciated what you wrote and said about being mindful of our own energy and the overwhelm we can feel. I am finding substack a bit noisy at the moment and have to protect myself from the "oh dear am I doing enough?!" kind of self talk. I prefer the intimate conversations, the comments, the real connections. I like that about Substack...that feels real and sustainable.

Also thank you for the reminder that the best way forward is via recommendations...I too have found that to be priceless. Bless you Claire and thank you.

Expand full comment
author

Yeah I feel we all know ourselves deep down and what our tolerance levels are like. I enjoy testing this for example I haven’t got the IG app on my phone which means I’m not “there” and I know my energy during the week is supporting people here. I’m challenging myself to take more photos to share because I don’t on it as a creative practise too. 📸 thanks for being here Sam! ✨✨

Expand full comment
Nov 15Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

I don't watch the news, I don't even have a TV, I'm barely on social media and I'm almost never on notes other than to restack some posts and every now and then I'll post a note. It's possible. Just because it exists doesn't mean we have to always be engaging with it.

Expand full comment
author

So so true Sophie! And we can’t if it upsets the creativity balance.

Expand full comment
Nov 13Liked by Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

Thank you, Claire! I’ve just set my app to open on inbox! 🤗👍

Expand full comment
author

Yay!! Perfect and remember if you finish up on Notes it remembers and opens it up there again... so try to finish on your inbox...

Expand full comment